Last season, No. 4 Maryland men’s soccer faced UCLA at the Big Ten Tournament. 

The Terps had major expectations, then the Bruins came to Ludwig Field and spoiled what was then an undefeated season.

In this edition’s contest, the game ended in an exciting 2-2 draw. 

In contrast to the Wisconsin game, tonight’s game started fast. Not even a minute into the game, UCLA ( 3-1-4, 0-1-2 Big Ten) got two chances at goal, one of which ended in an Oliver Roche shot that went wide. 

The Bruins had another chance, but Laurin Mack saved that attempt. It had looked like they were going to draw first blood.

But all Maryland (6-1-1, 1-1-1 Big Ten) needed was a beautiful pass by Ljubomir Popovic to Rodrigo Neri in the 5th minute to give the Terps an early one-goal lead. Popovic sailed a ball nearly the length of the pitch to hit Neri in stride and in perfect position to get his fourth goal of the season. 

About six minutes later, a “lazy” attempt at a clearance by Mack led to a near goal by UCLA in the 12th minute, but he was there for the diving save. Shortly after, in another sequence, Oliver Roche made contact with Mack as he was coming down with the ball, causing him to lose his balance. Some words were exchanged, but nothing major came out of it. 

After a trio of shots by the Bruins, they finally got the equalizer 14 minutes after Neri’s goal via Jaime Amaro’s second goal of the season. The sequence started with Leon Koehl being dispossessed near midfield by Roche. Ander Marticorena took possession and then passed to Amaro. Amaro’s goal came right at the top of the penalty box. 

The two sides combined for six more shots the rest of the half, eventually taking the game into halftime tied at 1-1. In total, the two teams had combined for 16 shots and nine shots on goal through 45 minutes. 

It should also be noted that UCLA’s Diego Martinez was booked in 30th minute for a red card, leaving the Bruins down a man.

The second half started with more of the same, as the Terps and Bruins traded corner kicks and shots in the first five minutes. But the Bruins took advantage of the opportunities. 

After a nearly three-minute sequence in which the Bruins took three shots, defender Victor Ciaurriz was able to capitalize on the third to give the Bruins the 2-1 advantage in the 54th minute. 

“We got a little careless,”  head coach Sasho Cirovski said. 

The Bruins got another chance ten minutes later on a breakaway that left Cameron Arnold one-on-one with Mack. But Mack denied the Bruins to get a comfortable lead. 

Maryland got other chances at equalizing, but after a Ljubomir Popovic free kick taken in the 66th minute on the right side of the penalty box sailed left of the goalpost and a Luka Juricic shot went off the post (71st minute), it looked like that result may never come. 

But in the 78th minute, a shot taken by Said El Eyysami forced UCLA goalkeeper Wyatt Nelson to make a diving save. That left him out of position, leading to Leon Koehl finding Dominic Ayella in the right place at the right time in front of goal. That tied the game at 2-2. 

A few minutes later, Ayella got behind the Bruins’ defense for a potential breakaway and game-winning goal. But he was tripped inside the penalty box, resulting in the home crowd screaming for a penalty. But after review, no penalty was given.  

More opportunities would come for the Terps, including a shot by Neri in the 89th minute that went high. But after several moments of anticipation, only groans from a packed Ludwig Field were the result. 

In the end, it was the third tie in five matches between these two teams since the Bruins joined the Big Ten in 2024. 

This was the fifth instance this season in which the Terps gave up at least 2 goals, something Cirovski said had to be cleaned up. 

“We have to become more stingy as a team and not give up this many goals… You cannot give up two goals at home.” 

He did declare at the end that they would become a tougher team defensively, and giving up 2 goals would be “the last time” that happens. 

Up next: an away trip to Bloomington to take on the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers. A familiar face awaits the Terps in Stephane Njike, who netted 7 goals for the Terps last year and so far has 1 goal this year.